Hat ironing machine



Sept.'8, 1942. s. J. MILLER HAT IRONING MACHINE Filed Feb. 5, l940 4 Sheets-Sheet l RNEYS,

s. .1. MILLER HAT IRONING MACHINE Filed Feb. 5, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS Sept. 8, 1942. 5. J. MILLER HAT IRONING MACHINE Filed Feb; 5, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR W. MORNEYS Patented Sept. 8, 1942 r QFICE 2,295,230 HAT IRONING MACHINE Stephen J. Miller, Danbury, Conn.

Application February 5,

1940, Serial No. 317,251

16 Claims. 491123-21) This invention relates to hat ironing machines, more particularly to a machine for ironing the brims of hats, and has for an object to provide a construction whereby the entire surface of the brim of the hat may be ironed at one operation or one revolution of the block supporting the hat.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a construction in which during the rotation of the hat for the brim ironing operation the pressure of the ironing means onthe brim is automatically varied at different portions of the brim, and more specifically is automatically increased at the portions of the brim where the greater strength and stiffness is desired.

Another object of the invention is to provide a construction in which an irregular oval shaped form or block for supporting the brim during the ironing operation is mounted for both rotative and limited lateral or bodily movement so that for all positions of the hat brim during the ironing operation the surface of the ironing means is maintained substantially parallel or tangent to the surface of the brim so as to give a better and more uniform ironing of the entire surface of the brim.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a device in which the hat brim to be ironed and the ironing means are mounted in more =ad-- vantageous relative positions so that the pressure of the ironing means on the brim is at all times during the ironing operation the most advantageous for the proper and best ironing effect, thus giving a much improved result.

With the foregoing and other objects in view I have devised the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification. It is, however, to be understood that I am not limited to the specific construction and arrangement shown but may use various modifications and changes within the scope of the invention.

In these drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my improved ironing machine;

Fig. 2 is a detailed section through the ironing Fig. 3 1s a plan view of the hat supporting form, usually called a flange or block, with a hat thereon in ironing operation, parts being broken away to more clearly and relative positions of the parts, the block beduring the ironing operation. when the ironing elements are pressed against one side of the rear portion of the brim where greater curvature and stiflness is required disclose the construction of the brim for giving it strength and maintaining its shape;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the supporting and driving means for the flange or block, but with the block and its immediate support removed and parts broken away to more clearly show the construction, the position of the parts being shown where they would be when the longest diameter of the oval block is in the horizontal position;

Fig. 5 is a section through a portion of the block and a brim thereon and showing in elevation the ironing means in operating position thereon;

Fig. 6 is a transverse section substantially on line 6- 5 of Fig. 4 but showing the block and its support in position;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the the ironing means; and

Fig. 8 is a side view of one of the ironing elements with parts broken away to more clearly show the construction.

The machine shown comprises an upright pedestal l0 mounted on any s table base, and mounted in this pedestal in any suitable location is an electric driving motor ll. Mounted at the upper end of the pedestal is a housing l2 enclosing means for supporting and operating the oval shaped annular hat supporting block l3.

Mounted within the housing I2 is an oval annular gear M which is cut on its outer periphery to form a worm gear l5 meshing with a driving worm It, the gear l5 being a hob-cut worm gear. The worm I6 is mounted on a driving shaft l1 mounted in any su'table anti-friction bearings l8 and with an anti-friction thrust bearing lQ to take the lateral thrust of the shaft. The shaft is driven by a pulley shaft driven by any suitable means, as the belt 21 from the motor ll. Within the housing i2 is a plane surface 22 on which the gear l4 rests. and is therefore mounted for both rotative movement and limited relative sliding or bodily movements while still in mesh with It, for a purpose which will presently be described. The inner periphery 23 of this gear may be of any desired shape depending on the ironing effect desired on the hat brim. In the present showing it is shown as an irregularly shaped curve forming in eifect a cam surface cooperating with suitable guide means to give the motion desired to the gear as it is rotated. this guiding means comprises a pair of rollers 24 and 25 mounted by suitable bearings 26 on studs 21 projecting upwardly from the surface 22.

Mounted on the gear 14 by any suitable means ironing surfaces of is a plate 23. This plate rests on the top of the gear and is secured in position by any suitable number of pins or dowels 29 carried by the plate in the gear, and

central opening 32 of the support. At the side walls of the support 3i tending flange 36 on which rests. The block is secured to easy and quick upper edges of the is an inwardly eX- by merely lifting it ofi the pins.

l4 and the plate plate 28 and the base 32 of the sup port 3| so that this base overlaps cover 38 and the hat is mounted the inverted posi- During the ironing operation on the flange or block I3 in tion, as shown the block being which the cloth that it is After the provided with a groove 46 into is compressed by the cord 50 eld in position on the block.

is suitable means for the ironing operation which will presently be of the housing.

The housing 48 comprises a central member control switch 66.

plies the necessary heat directly to the bars 52 and the ironing elements 49 carried thereby. To conserve this heat the inner sides of the plates 6| may be recessed to carry an insulation 61 such as asbestos or other suitable material.

The ironing head 51 is pivoted at 58 between the side arms of a forked lever 69 to swing in a vertical plane and to permit it to adjust itself to allow the surfaces of the ironing elements 49 to properly and uniformly engage the surface of the article being lever 69 is in turn pivotally mounted to swing in plane by pivots 1B in an upright support H pivoted on a transverse shaft 12 in a suitable supporting bracket 13 mounted on the pedestal Hi. This support H is substantially U-shape in cross section, and mounted between the side walls thereof 14 secured to the transverse shaft ket 13. The support H is also free to turn on this shaft so that the shaft may turn relative to this support. The free end of the lever arm it, however, is secured of a spring 15 connected at one end to the lever arm M and at its other end to an adjustable bolt 16 mounted in 11 on the support II. This bolt the spring 15,

in adjusted position by a lock nut 1%. The support H has a second extension 8i! having a recess 81 in which is mounted a compression spring 82 reacting at one end against the bottom of the recess and at its outer end against the arm 83 of the lever 89. A rod 84 passes through the arm 83 and the inner wall of the recess 8! and on its inner end is provided with a stop 8'5 to engage this wall to hold the rod against outward movement. A stop collar 85 upon the opposite side of the lever arm 83 from the spring 82 limits the outward movement of this arm on the rod under action of the spring, but the lever arm is spaced from the end of the extension BB so that it may swing inwardly and permit swinging 69 about its pivot IE3 and against the action of the spring 82 under conditions which will be the operation.

Also mounted on and secured to the shaft l 8'! on which is a pivoted grip 88 to operate a rod 89 connected with a catch 90 adapted to seat in suitable notches in a segment 9! to lock the lever 8'! in different positions. The segment 9'. is mounted on the bracket 13. An electric junction box S2 may be mounted on the pedestal ID from which sutable leads connected to a plug-in cap, not shown, may extend to be plugged in to any suitable outlet receptacle in the shop wiring system, and leads @3 may extend from this box to the switch 66 for supplying heating current to the unit M in the ironing head. To control the operation of the motor ll there is mounted on the shaft 12 a suitable switch 94. which for example may be a mercury switch controlling the current to the motor H. preferably through a suitable relay switch is mounted on the shaft 12 in such a posi on that when the lever 81 is in the full line position and therefore the support I! and the ironing head M are in their retracted or inoperative position, as shown in full lines Fig. 1, the circuit to the motor is opened and the motor therefore is not operating, but when the lever 81 is swung forwardly to press the ironing head against the article to be ironed this switch will close the circuit and start the motor operating to rotate the gear M, the hat block 13, and therefore the hat carried thereby.

The operation is as follows: The elements are normally in the position shown by the full lines Fig. l. The operator suitable flange the machine support on a bench, table or other suitable support. As previously indicated the hat is placed in the block with the crown 4| extending down through the inner opening iii of the block and with its brim 42 resting on the outer surface 43 of the block. The cloth 44 is then stretched over this brim and secured in position by the clamping cord 55. This cloth is drawn snugly over the brim so as to hold it in place and care is taken to insure that the cloth is smooth with no folds or wrinkles. The cloth may then be moistened with a sponge or other suitable means and the block with its hat is lifted from its support on the bench and placed on the pins 31 on the support 3|.

The operator then releases the lever 81 and draws it forwardly. It will be understood the electric heating means in the ironing head has been previously turned on so that the ironing elements 49 have been brought to the proper temperature. As the lever 81 is swung forwardly it turns the shaft 12 and carries with it the support H and the ironing head 41 to bring the ironing elements 49 against the brim of the hat on the block, and it is locked in this forward position by the catch 8%] seating in a suit ably located notch or stop in the segment 9!. This action is secured by the arm M swinging forwardly with the lever B? as secured to the shaft 12. This movement of the lever 14 acting through the spring 15 draws the support H forwardly, and the notch or stop Q5 is so located that when the lever 81 is in the forward position with the ironing elements engaging the hat the spring E5 is tensioned, and therefore the ironing elements are held against the surface to be ironed by the tension of the spring I5. This provides a yielding and proper pressure on the surface to be ironed automatically, merely by the operation of swinging the lever 81 forwardly without any other action by the operator, and the amount of the pressure being determined by the setting of the adjusting means F8 for adjusting the tension of the spring 15. Also when the lever 8.1 is swung forwardly the switch 94 is turned to close the circuit to the motor I I which immediately starts to slowly rotate the hat block past the ironing elements 49. This operation may desired number of revolutions of the hat or until the desired ironing has been will be readily known to the operator after some experience, but it will be seen that during the ironing operation the entire curvature or transverse surface of the hat brim is simultaneous y ironed by the plurality of ironing elements 49, so that whether the hat is given. one or a plurality of revolutions the brim is given the desired and uniform ironing, except as it is varied automatically at certain parts of the periphery of the brim by the action of the rotating means for the hat and the shape of the block. as will presently be described. In order to prevent danger of the ironing elements 59 more or less digging into the surface to cause injury or an uneven surface the forward edges of these elethey are both ments may be suitably rounded as indicated at come and the surfaces of the ironing elements 58a. are maintained at all times substantially parallel It is found to be very desirable and to give to the surface being ironed at the ironing point, much better results if the block is inclined to or stated another way, center 97 or the plane of to make this angle about 45, but I am by no stantially right angles to the surface of the hat means limited to this angle as it may be varied at the ironing point. This effect is secured by to the rear of this inclined block, and therefore so that this gear has both rotary and limited curved portions where it is ordinarily most difruns on the guide rollers 24 and 25, and the it is wanted, instead of placing it principally on long diameter of the hat corresponds with the the top as would apt to be the case if the block long diameter of the oval gear I4 and the genwere horizontal. erally oval shaped cam surface 23. It is also The ironing head is also so placed in its supcommon that the brims of hats are curved more then tips to the dot and dash line position to en- 25 I3 is curved more or is on a shorter transverse other portion and thus mar the surface and give the proper curvature, greater pressure is required clined as described. Also, the strength of the cure combined rotary and limited bodily movestrength. The heat and moisture together With hat is held in substantially central position by the shape of the flange or block and sets the the rear of the hat, which are the more curved stiifening in the hat. It also gives a fine uniform portions of the brim and give the greatest supsurface to the hat. port, are brought into engagement with the iron- It will be evident that to secure the best ironing elements. This is the position of Fig. 3, the

ing operation it faces of the elements be in the same relation to the line IOI. At this time the properly shaped parallel to the surface being ironed, or that is, elements. This shifts the ironing elements and that, as a hat is not round but of general oval -'60 curved portions of the hat brim to give it the brim. That is, the ironing head would in eflect 5 brim where this greater strength and shaping sides of a plane perpendicular or normal to the As the rotation of the gear l4 continues, the surface at the ironing point so that the pressure action of the cam 23 cooperating with the rollers of the ironing elements would be greater on one 24 and 25 continues to give the proper shifting side of the point at one time and on the other 7 of the gear l4 and hat block I 3 throughout the side at another time, with continuous variations remainder of the ironing action on the hat brim,

between, giving an uneven and varied ironing the pressure being greater on the ironing of the I have devised an improved and novel means rear or more curved portions of the brim and for rotating the hat during the ironing operaless at the front or less curved portions of the tion whereby this objection is eifectively overbrim.

This bodily shifting of the gear l4 also compensates for the irregular or general oval shape of the hat brim so that the ironing surfaces 50 of the ironing elements 49 are maintained substantially parallel with the surface being ironed at the ironing point or point of contact throughout the entire periphery of the brim. In other words the center 91 or the plane of the ironing head is automatically retained at substantially right angles to the surface being ironed throughout the entire periphery, giving a much better and more uniformly finished surface.

Having thus set forth the nature of my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a hat ironing machine, an annular hat supporting block, means for supporting the block inclined to the horizontal, an ironing head comprising a plurality of individually yieldable ironing elements to simultaneously iron the surface of a hat brim supported on said block, a pivoted support for supporting said head above and to the rear of the block, means for swinging the head forwardly and downwardly to press said elements against the hat brim, means for heating the elements, and means for rotating the block while said elements are pressed thereagainst to iron the brim.

2. In a hat ironing machine, an annular hat supporting block having a transversely curved outer surface to support and shape the brim of a hat, means for supporting the block inclined to the horizontal, an ironing head comprising a plurality of individually yieldable ironing elements mounted with their ironing surfaces arranged in a curve similar to that of the block, a pivoted support for mounting the head at the higher side of the block and to swing the head to engagement with a brim on the block, means for pivoting the head on the support in a position so that when the head is shifted toward the block the ironing elements at the free edge of the brim will engage the brim before the other elements, and means for rotating the block.

3. In a hat ironing machine, an annular hat supporting block having a transversely curved outer surface to support and shape the brim of a hat, means for supporting the block inclined to the horizontal, an ironing head comprising a plurality of individually yieldable ironing elements mounted with their ironing surfaces arranged in a curve similar to that of the block and to simultaneously iron the full transverse surface of the brim, means for mounting the head to one side of and at the higher part of the block, means for shifting the head to and from the block and to press the elements against the block to iron a hat brim thereon, and means for rotating the block.

4. In a hat ironing machine, an oval annular hat supporting block having a transversely curved outer surface to support brim of a hat, an ironing head having ironing surfaces arranged in a curve similar to that of the block to iron a hat brim on the block, means for yieldingly pressing said surfaces against the block, and means for rotating the block and at the same time shifting said block laterally to maintain the ironing surfaces at all times substantially parallel to the surface of the brim at the ironing point.

5. In a hat ironing machine, an oval annular hat supporting block having a transversely curved outer surface to support and shape the brim of a hat, an annular oval gear mounted for rotating and lateral movements, the inner peripheral wall and shape the of said gear being an irregular curve, a driving gear meshing with the first gear to rotate it, backing up guides on which the inner periphery runs as the first gear is rotated, means for supporting the block on said first gear, an ironing head having ironing surfaces arranged in a curve similar to that of the block to iron a hat brim on said block, and means for yieldingly'pressing said surfaces against the brim as the block is rotated, said irregular curve being so shaped as to shift the block laterally to maintain the ironing surfaces at all times substantially parallel to the surface of the brim at the ironing point.

6. In a hat ironing machine, an oval annular hat supporting block having a transversely curved outer surface to support and shape a hat brim, means for mounting said block for rotating movements and limited lateral movements, an ironing head having ironing surfaces arranged in a curve similar to that of the block to iron a brim on said block, means for yieldingly pressing said surfaces against the block, means for rotating the block, and means for laterally shifting the block toward and from the ironing head at predetermined portions of its rotation to vary the pressure of the said surfaces on the brim.

'7. In a hat ironing machine, an oval annular hat supporting block having a transversely curved outer surface to support and shape a hat brim, a base having a plane surface, a support for said block mounted on said surface for rotating and limited lateral movements, means having ironing surfaces arranged in a curve similar to that of the block to iron a brim on said block, means for yieldingly pressing said surfaces against the block, means for rotating said support, and means for guiding said support on said surface to shift the block toward and from the head at predetermined portions of its rotative movement different amounts to vary the pressure of the ironing means on the brim at predetermined points.

8. In a hat ironing machine, an oval annular hat supporting block having a outer surface to support and shape a hat brim, a base having a plane surface, an oval shaped an- -nular gear mounted on said surface for rotating and limited lateral movements, means for mounting the block on said gear, means having ironing surfaces arranged in a curve similar to that of the block to iron a on said block, means for yieldingly pressing said surfaces against the block, a driving gear meshing with the oval gear for rotating it, the inner periphery of said first gear being a cam surface, and guide means cooperating with said cam surface during rotation of the gear to shift the block laterally, and said cam being shaped to produce predetermined different relations of the brim .to the ironing means at different points during rotation of the block.

9. In a hat ironing machine, an oval annular hat supporting block having a transversely curved outer surface to support and shape'a hat brim, an oval shaped annular gear mounted for combined rotative and limited bodily movements, means for mounting the block on said gear, the inner periphery of said gear being a guiding cam surface, guides cooperating with said surface to guide the gear during its rotative movement and impart its bodily movements, means having ironing surfaces arranged in a curve similar to that of the block to iron a brim on said block, means for yieldingly pressing said surfaces against the brim, and a driving gear meshing with the first gear for rotating it, said cam surface being shaped to vary the pressure of the ironing means on the transversely curved brim at predetermined different points during rotation of the block.

10. In a hat ironing machine, an oval annular hat supporting block having a transversely curved outer surface to tact therewith at all times.

11. In a hat ironing machine, means for supporting an oval annular hat supporting block inthe block supporting means.

12. In a hat ironing machine, an oval annular brim, the brim past the ironing means.

13. In a hat ironing machine, an annular hat supporting block having the brim, a spring foreach element tending to force it means for pressing the ironing means against a hat brim on the block,

block past said ironing 15. In a hat ironing ti'on of air to cool-the springs.

STEPHEN J. 

